Could wagering on horse racing and betting at self-service kiosks in locations spread across the state be part of New York’s online sports betting platform? It will be if proposed legislation on this matter is passed into law.
Within the next month or two, New York sports betting is expected to launch online. The state already offers legal and regulated sports betting at brick-and-mortar retail locations.
If State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. has his way, New York will be going the extra mile. He wants the state to offer unique aspects with its online sports betting platform. Addabbo, who is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering, has filed a bill for the state’s upcoming legislative session in January. His bill would bring horse racing into online sportsbook offerings.
Addabbo’s bill also includes a provision that would permit online sports bettors operators such as Caesars Sportsbook New York to partner with select affiliates and install self-service betting kiosks on their premises. These proposed affiliates would include off-track betting corporations, professional sports stadiums and arenas, a franchised corporation, or a licensed race track.
Could Horse Racing Be Included In New York Sports Betting Apps?
Addabbo’s legislation, Senate Bill S7536, is seeking to allow the nine qualified sports betting operators such as WynnBET New York and Bally Bet New York to have the ability to offer fixed odds wagering on horse racing through their mobile apps. For any of the nine licensed New York sports betting operators to provide this service, they will need to partner and enter into an agreement with a horse racing content provider.
BetMGM has already launched a similar program in Ohio. BetMGM Horse Racing allows Ohio horse players to watch and wager on thoroughbred, harness, and quarter horse races from in excess of 200 tracks spanning the globe. BetMGM plans to eventually go nationwide with this program, which can be combined with their mobile sports betting app in states where they already have a sports betting presence.
New York already has a robust advance deposit wagering (ADW) online horse racing wagering program set up in the state, NYRA Bets. NYRA Bets is America’s leading online betting platform, available nationwide on their app, online, and on-track. It’s a legal, US-based, regulated, and licensed provider of horse race wagering run by the operators of the state’s three biggest racetracks—Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course.
It’s NYRA Bets that is providing their expertise to the BetMGM Horse Racing app and they are supportive of Addabbo’s bill.
“Allowing horse racing content and wagering to coexist within the mobile sports betting marketplace would grow the sport in New York, deepen the industry’s economic impact and attract new fans,” Patrick McKenna, Senior Director, Communications, New York Racing Association said in a statement. “It would expand consumer choice by placing premium horse racing content on the same mobile shelf as other professional sports, which would generate $1 billion or more in additional gaming revenue for New York State.
“Senator Addabbo recognizes the importance of horse racing as an economic engine for the state responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual economic impact. The legislation he has introduced presents an enormous opportunity for horse racing to share in the benefits of mobile sports betting. It would be a big win for New York and for the future of horse racing.”
Will NY Sports Betting Kiosks Come to Fruition?
Of the two proposed measures, this one seems like it would be the easiest to accomplish. It’s unlikely that any of the parties involved in the suggested arrangement would be against the idea.
Sports teams are continually forging partnerships with sports betting companies. Why not take it to the next level and do some profit sharing and direct promotion of the product on site? There’s already a precedent for this. There are sports betting operations set up in stadiums in Arizona, Colorado, and Washington, DC.
Racetracks in New York already offer video lottery terminals. Adding sports betting kiosks to that mix would only serve to give bettors another attraction to bring them inside the doors of the track.
https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/news/betting/new-york-bill-may-open-door-for-online-horse-racing-bets-betting-kiosks-at-arenas/